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Well, it’s about damn time. After all that (rather baseless) legal posturing, it’s official: Sega’s Sonic Team is hard at work — and has been for around three years — on a brand-new adventure featuring their most iconic character. In a press release sent out this morning (after the jump), Sega gave us an overview of Sonic Unleashed, which is being developed for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation 2.
The story, which you probably couldn’t care less about, isn’t anything groundbreaking: Dr. Eggman (*sigh* I miss the good ol’ days of Dr. Robotnik) has broken up the world into seven continents — wait, isn’t that already how it’s set up? Anyway, Sonic has to find the Chaos Emeralds and use their power to set everything right, blah-dee blah-dee blah. But there are a lot of promising details in spite of the banal plot.
There’s an intriguing mention of a day/night dichotomy being used as a gameplay device, as well as “seamless” transitions between 3D and “classic 2D” camera angles (yay!). But here’s the main selling point for me (I guess the Sonic Team saw Jim’s “How to save Sonic” piece):
Players will have an opportunity to engage in ways never before done with the Sonic franchise, so in addition to running at high speeds, which will be highlighted in four new speed mechanics, combat fighting now becomes possible. New combat, movement, functional abilities and platforming will be introduced to offer increased depth and variety.
I know I’m not the only one whose pants are tent—splooge! Seriously, that’s what I’ve always wanted to see in a new Sonic game. Though the trailer (viewable above) consists entirely of Sonic dashing through gorgeous levels, just the thought of platforming has got me titillated. Speaking of the trailer, it’s quite different from the one that was originally leaked on YouTube. Okay, the first minute is nearly identical, but after that, this trailer — which presumably comprises gameplay footage — shows off a previously unseen water-themed level that brought European seaside cities to my mind.
Alright, Sonic Team, I am officially stoked for this game; don’t let me down. Sonic Unleashed is set for release this holiday season. For more information, check out the game’s official website at http://www.sega.com/sonicunleashed/. It has two more screenshots, along with the debut trailer and press release. Are you as excited as I am, folks?
SEGA ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF SONIC UNLEASHED
Latest Installment to Extend Sonic’s Signature Style… but with a Twist!
SAN FRANCISCO (April 3, 2008) - SEGA® of America and SEGA of Europe, Ltd. today announced that everyone’s favorite hedgehog is once again breaking new ground in the upcoming title, Sonic Unleashed™. The latest installment in the multi-million selling franchise starring the beloved blue hedgehog will take players on an unforgettable high-speed journey around the globe in a way never before experienced in the world of Sonic. Fans will be treated to an array of new, exciting and unique next generation features to heighten their experience. Sonic Unleashed is currently under development for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.
“It is an exciting time for the Sonic franchise as we look to reinvent our hero while staying true to the spirit of what made him an industry icon,” said Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing at SEGA of America. “Sonic Unleashed will introduce a new, unexpected storyline along with innovative gameplay that compliments traditional skills and features, allowing players to experiment and engage in new ways.”
Having been broken apart by the evil Dr. Eggman, it’s up to Sonic to put the pieces of the world back together again by retrieving the power of the chaos emeralds! In doing so, Sonic will find himself in a race against time and faced with an unusual situation that will challenge him in ways never before seen. Both day and night play different, yet important, roles in Sonic’s newest quest… as the sun sets, a new adventure awakens. By completing a wide variety of action-packed stages, spanning the seven broken continents of the world, gamers will need to unleash Sonic’s amazing abilities to save the world, and himself!
Players will have an opportunity to engage in ways never before done with the Sonic franchise, so in addition to running at high speeds, which will be highlighted in four new speed mechanics, combat fighting now becomes possible. New combat, movement, functional abilities and platforming will be introduced to offer increased depth and variety.
Sonic Unleashed will offer a re-defined experience for fans and newcomers of the franchise alike by combing picturesque & detailed scenery, an expansive world with multiple paths to choose from and dynamic viewpoints for an immersive and renewed gaming atmosphere. Along with seamless 3D to classic 2D camera transitions, the game is built on a powerful, new proprietary “Hedgehog Engine,” which introduces impressive lighting abilities and new technology tailor made for Sonic’s new speed capabilities. Under development for approximately three years, the Hedgehog Engine will help to produce a visually rich next generation look and feel with elements of classic Sonic gameplay components.
Currently in development by Sonic Team, Sonic Unleashed is scheduled for release worldwide for holiday 2008. For screenshots and art, please visit the SEGA FTP site at http://segapr.segaamerica.com. For more information on the game, please visit www.sega.com/sonicunleashed.
You know, playing through Subspace in Brawl as Sonic, I thought that a Sonic game like this - being able to fight your enemies and everything, dodging, speed is available but you don't have to use it - I thought, "this would make a great Sonic game if they got rid of everything that sucks about Subspace". Then I see this.
Ugh, I had minor hopes. That video shot them down. I just want a Sonic game, a good one or decent one. This just looks like the same crap that was in that Seven Rings game, which also didn't look appealing at all to me. Who knows though.
I really hope it's good. Every time I let myself hope.....
Wasn't there a rumor that he was gonna turn into some kind of werewolf-hedgehog in this one? I buy every Sonic game because of fond memories for Sonic 3, but that may be too much. _ _
combat fighting now becomes possible. New combat, movement, functional abilities and platforming will be introduced to offer increased depth and variety.
Platforming sure sounds good, but combat? Unless by combat they mean Sonic jumps on his enemies heads repeatedly, count me out. I don't want to be doing all sorts of street fighter like or even god of war like combos in a Sonic game.
I'm with brainderailment. What made Sonic fun was going through different paths and finding the fastest way to get through the stage, as well as finding secrets. 2D game on track is still game on track, which was the problem with the 3D games, not the fact that they were 3D.
There's still Sonic Rush, I guess. At least the graphics are pretty. I do like the Spanish-looking stage.
sega please for the love of god don't fuck this up i want you to reign supreme once again and you have been sucking ass since the end of the dreamcast.
As long as there is no Yuji Naka...there will always be hate for the Sonic series. I for one am hoping for this to bring back the Sonic greatness, but people...this is going to be released for Christmas, I expect the night and day thing and the depth to be nixed.
So if they've been working on this for 3 years, does that mean "Sonic the Hedgehog" was just some filler crap they pushed out?
For shame Sonic Team for shame.
I refuse to get interested in this. I got all excited last time, and then it came out and sucked all kinds of poo. You won't trick me again Sonic Team, oh no.
On the subject of combat, I remember getting all out of place over the fact that Mario could do a 3 punch combo in Mario 64, and that turned out ok.
Still refuse to get excited though :(
The upside to this is, if it comes out and is awesome, I get a pleasant suprise. But I'm not counting on that, oh no.
thou it's nice 2 see the ol' formula again i bet this wont be good enough..if they keep bad camera and bad gameplay trust my word...i've been a sonic fan,but lately SEGA's suckin' a lot with it...it's not our Sonic anymore...but VIKINGS...
Honestly, Sonic games have sucked so badly over the past 10 years that even if they got the mechanics right THIS time, I still wouldn't buy it unless it was available for $30 at launch, and every game reviewing company gave it a high ranking (like 7.5 or higher out of 10).
@spooky electric: what? what are you talking about on rails? besides secret rings, none of the last sonic games were on rails. in fact, too much freedom is probably one of the biggest plagues of sonics 3d adventures. you cant make a game based mostly on speed without some sort of "track." really, it just looks like a 2d/3d version of sonic rush to me. the music even sounds like it was produced by teruhiko nakugawa, who was responsible for sonic rush adventures soundtrack.
@seung: are you saying as long as there is no yuji naka, youll be pleased? because yuji naka was at least involved in some way in every sonic game before unleashed. that includes heroes, shadow, and sonic 06. i wish naota oshima would come back, but meh. this could be good, we'll have to see.
It looks like the took all the best parts of the Sonic Adventure series and replaced the parts that suck with parts from the classic Genesis games. Looks incredible!
I don't hold high hopes for any sonic game. I got Sonic Rush the other day, THE LEVEL HAS NO FLOOR!! The amount of times I jumped and fell from that Goddam floating world made me give up before I got very far. If this is the kind of brilliant decisions we are dealing with, I expect some other dumbass idea like "Sonic dies if he goes too fast" to appear.
The fact that they're publishing this game on PS2 already makes me worry. That probably means it's being built on last gen technology and then smoothed out a little for PS360
You know what was nice about that trailer? The music. It wasn't that god awful Power Rock shit that we've been getting with our Sonic games. Please Sega, if you're reading this, please keep these kinds of tunes in the game and get rid of that power rock garbage.
@KnuxSonic: Read the press release carefully. It mentions Sega’s proprietary “Hedgehog Engine”, which “introduces impressive lighting abilities and new technology” in order to “produce a visually rich next generation look and feel with elements of classic Sonic gameplay components”.
Oh, for heaven's sake... stop taking control away from the player to do these stupid zooming beauty shots! It's distracting. That's what annoyed the hell out of me while trying to play Sonic Adventure. This alone tells me they have the wrong priorities.
I miss the Roboknik days, too. Especially when the mother fucker didn't speak.
Sega's grace period when it comes to Sonic is officially over for me. Totally apathetic to this. If it's good, then nice surprise. If it's shit, then eh.
I want Robotnik back too! He was so friggin' cool!
But I'm on the fence about this game... I first want a demo before I buy it :-)
It looks amazing and great fun, but all previous sonic-games had great trailers too and we all know how those turned out... ( except for the 2D-ones, those were great! )
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3:39 PM on 04.03.2008, 
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